Eric Morrison, Google, didn’t follow a straight path into his career. He started with a curiosity about people—how they think, how they make decisions, and why technology sometimes helps and sometimes gets in the way. That curiosity took him from studying history at Yale to exploring how the internet shapes human behavior at Oxford. Over time, it became the foundation of his work.
Over the past 13 years, he has built a career focused on understanding how people use technology in real life. He has worked across companies like Disney, TikTok, and now Google, helping teams think more clearly about the experiences they create. His focus is simple: look beyond assumptions and pay attention to how people actually think and interact.
What stands out is how he approaches problems. He listens closely. He asks questions others overlook. He looks for the gap between what people expect and what they experience. Those habits often lead to better decisions and clearer thinking.
Outside of work, he keeps things simple. He spends time cycling, lifting weights, and reading fiction. These routines help him reset and stay focused.
People who work with him often leave with a different perspective. Not because he tells them what to do, but because he helps them see things they hadn’t noticed before.
Q: What first drew you to this kind of work?
I didn’t start out thinking I’d work in tech. I was more interested in people. I studied history because I liked understanding how decisions shape outcomes over time. That led me to study how people interact with the internet. Once I saw how often products didn’t match real behavior, I got interested in that gap.
Q: What keeps you motivated today?
It’s still that same gap. There’s often a difference between what people expect and what they experience. Even in strong teams, things can get missed. I like slowing things down just enough to notice what’s actually happening.
Q: Can you share a moment that shaped how you think about your work?
Early on, I worked on a project where everything looked successful based on the numbers. Then we spoke with users, and their experience told a different story. They were getting through tasks, but not in a way that felt smooth or intuitive. That stuck with me. You need both perspectives.
Q: How do you approach building confidence in your ideas?
I try to start with understanding, not confidence. If I can explain why something is happening, I feel more comfortable speaking up. I also bring others into the thinking early rather than waiting until everything feels complete.
Q: What role does risk play in your career?
Most of the risk came from moving into new areas. Each transition meant learning something from scratch. That’s uncomfortable, but it also helped me see patterns across different environments.
Q: How do you stay grounded in fast-moving environments?
I keep a few routines that don’t change. Cycling helps because it gives you uninterrupted time to think. Lifting weights does the same in a different way. Reading fiction helps me step back and reset.
Q: What advice would you give someone trying to find their direction?
Pay attention to what you notice that others don’t. That’s usually a signal. For me, it was always about how people actually used things, not how they were supposed to. That became my focus over time.
Q: How do you think people inspire others in a real way?
It usually happens in small moments. It’s how you show up in conversations. It’s whether you listen and help someone see something differently. That tends to stick more than anything else.
Q: Looking back, what made the biggest difference in your journey?
Staying in the learning phase longer than felt comfortable. It’s easy to rush to answers. The real progress often happens before that, when you’re still figuring things out.
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